Bemusement

Tonight was the monthly dinner with my sister -- my choice, my treat.  I selected King Wah in River -- actually, I gave my sister a choice of three and she selected the one that had the least adventuresome selection.  As one of my church friends pointed out, the place has both Chinese-American and order-from-the-picture menu fare, and that was good enough for her.  It was quite good, and, as we noted, they didn't skimp on the portions (in this era of Bidenomics, one notices).  We discussed many things -- her impending retirement, my brother-in-law and his lack of business sense (or, as I say, extremely old-fashioned business sense), Church stuff, food pantry stuff, and the fact that I need to start getting my affairs in order.  Not only do I need a will, but there are things I should be buying and upgrading, and there is no reason not to do it now...

I have to admit, Joe Biden certainly put on a show today, with the Ron Burgundy moment and then crossing himself before addressing some pro-infanticide affair.   Really, the next priest who gives him Communion should be laicized on the spot.   Again, this could be me, but every GOPer should be asking every Dem (and those who claim to be Catholic) about these things.  They won't, of course, but...

Laptop (in theory) returns tomorrow and it will be nice to have it back; a sense of normalcy.  I mean, there are files to update on the book list, OC budget stuff to complete, emails to finish; not that I have not survived with the old Pebble one, but it is not quite the same, and of course I remember my career there, and...for a man who is somewhat devoid of sentiment, I can be quite wistful at times.

The End of an Era

There has been a slight hiatus in my blogging; basically, my email account was receiving/sending another round of spoofs, so I took the laptop  to Geek Squad for a full diagnostic.  I asked about what could be done so that this never happens again, and aside from having complex passwords (I barely remember them), they suggested deleting my email account (the thought had crossed my mind).  This, as you can imagine, was problematic, as I have saved literally hundreds of things -- SVDP stuff, food pantry stuff, memories, funny stuff, etc.  Anyways, much of Sunday was spent culling or saving that; followed by unsubscribing and resubscribing (I created a new email account!) to all of the various things to which I am connected -- from the utilities to the library to the grocery store.  I don't even think I have them all!  Finally, I had to re-email everyone from the old account to remind them to use the new one (I can always find a reason to write, I guess).  This also took some time, and I hope I got everyone.  Of course, this morning when I went to log on...the new account was temporarily blocked.  Oi.  While there is something nice in NOT having 52 emails to handle a day... being out of connection is NOT good.

In the meantime... Communion breakfast planning was done in earnest, I finished a book -- The Conquering Tide, Ian Toll's middle volume of his trilogy about WWII in the Pacific -- and am a third of the way through another, and went to bed slightly after 10 yesterday, getting an unheard of eight hours of sleep.  Funny; I didn't exactly wake up all refreshed today; indeed, quite the opposite.  I suspect I am overtired, and the stress and annoyance of the past few days has not helped.  I think I can get seven tonight, which would be impressive.

Is it me, or is the GOP missing an opportunity by not more closely linking all of the college protests and all to the Democrats?  Ads of chanting (not-in-class) students calling for the rape of Israelis and violence -- all while demanding to be free of student loans -- would be, to me, ideal.  And, of course, all of these people ARE Democrats, and linking them to AOC and the like couldn't hurt either.  I would like to think these things would be easy to crank out, too, and given the cash crunch that seems to be affecting the GOP...well, the best type of food is free food, as they say.

Unexpectedness

Good day today, nicely helped by the fact that the plans I had originally made -- a fundraiser -- were cancelled due to an outbreak of COVID.  Odd; years ago this would have been a somber time, but now...well, the event could have gone on, but it was decided that due to the fact that half of the people had been in contact with those laid up...discretion is the better part of valor.  Also:  either everyone is vaccinated or the symptoms are mild, because no one seemed to be....worried about it.  This is good -- it's not a killer -- but it still is causing issues.

I went for the echeck today, and... it is much less of a pain in the rear nowadays.  I remember when you first went it took 10 minutes or so; they revved the car, took all sorts of measurements, etc.  Quite annoying and many were convinced this was not good for the car.  Now... well, for one, they have self-serve kiosks, which I figured would not be suitable for my older truck, so I went in line.  Which, of course, was empty.  And... very fast.  You have to start the truck again to make sure there are no check engine lights, the very polite tech ran a few tests, and...that was that.  I passed -- phew -- but I wonder what they are not looking for now.  Unless, of course, we have solved the issue of vehicular air pollution.

Ministry Fair at church this weekend, and since the schedule was now open, I arrived for the post-5 PM Mass fest.  Not many people there -- the general assumption being that the Cavs game kept the crowd down.  Let's hope tomorrow goes better and there are some people who are interested... I think I have surrendered myself to the reality that there is no successor on the horizon, but...with a few more volunteers (and I should be asking for them!) we could more things in the area, or make some adjustments at the OC.

Farewell, Voyager 1 | The Spectator
It is a sad thing if this is the end, but these craft have had incredible runs!

The Duke Blue Devils Roster Is In Shambles After Numerous Key Departures (outkick.com)
Seven players have left the program...seven!  While the draft decisions were not unexpected...well, five transfers is quite a bit.  While I think Power would have benefitted from sticking around, he would also have benefitted from more PT.  Mitchell and Stewart will be missed for their size and toughness.  While I have no doubt that there is a solid recruiting class, and that Duke is an equally desirable destination for transfers, the whole thing is...jarring.  I guess I (and many others) viewed Duke as a place once aspired to transfer to and not simply move away from for reasons... I can see why a lot of the more older coaches have decided it was time to hang up their whistles!

Labors

I slept in a bit today -- worked from home -- and it was good, but I still feel a bit sleepy.  Alas.  In the morning I was fine, but in the afternoon... I really crashed.  Thankfully, several cups of coffee later, I was... somewhat invigorated, if you will.  I even managed -- on my lunch break -- to handle a bit of banking and untangle the switch from 30- to 90-day prescriptions.  One thing I did NOT do today was do some SVDP stuff, and -- also -- clear out some old emails.  At least the new stuff was handled, but the old.  Sigh.

The check for the first installment of the payment for the bathroom renovation was posted, so I took some of the money I had saved up and made a payment to the HELOC.  While so far so good... there was something sad and jarring about seeing a balance -- at these interest rates -- again.  I was listening to one of the economics podcasts today and one of the guys likes to blend personal finance with his commentary.  Today he was discussing that there are some people who are so concerned that they don't take any on, even a HELOC, which is bad -- you use it to improve your house, etc., and you can pay it back -- if you are so concerned, pay it back faster.  I of course was "I resemble this remark!"  To be sure, I am undertaking home repairs, but I am concerned about debt!  But they were correct; if you can manage debt, you can use it.  Indeed, once this bathroom is done... more to do.  

I watched "Matewan" today -- 831 on the National Film Registry.  It's about the labor wars of the 1920s in West Virginia coal country.  Impressive cast -- lots of famous faces, some of whom I even recognized.  The story was quite good; I was feeling somewhat progressive, given the message of the movie.  Truthfully, many workers have been poorly treated throughout our history, the miners especially, but now... I have a sneaking suspicion that in many cases our workers cannot compete with overseas labor, and that is a problem...

Links

My plan to get some extra rest has been foiled by the low blood sugar alarm, which went off about 15 minutes ago, and here we are, waiting for it to come up after what I thought was a sufficient snack.  Alas.  My blood sugar went up after Pub Quiz -- the burger and fries were too much in retrospect -- and I thought my gym time and insulin just right.  Oi.  PQ was... we came in second, so, as we say in my family, the biggest loser.  We trailed more at the half but scored well late; the problem was that the Final J! round category was indeed a question recycled from J!; it was one I had blown, so of course I remembered it.  So did the team in front of us.  But it was good to get together once again.  

Yesterday on J! two on the questions were ones I had had on my shows (a decade apart), and I couldn't help but note that when you hear your questions, you remember.  Thom -- one of the PQ members -- was on Millionaire!, and he said the same thing.  Odd how that works.  If only I could remember forty more questions, and I would feel less dumb.  

Matt Gaetz Is Winning (msn.com)
Interesting.  Honestly, I do not know what to think about him.  He is slimy but so are a bunch of other guys.  Opportunistic?  So is everyone else?  In it for the wrong reasons?  Probably.  Petty?  Who isn't.  Does he get results?  Sort of.  As with a lot of people in the GOP, I am not sure what the end game is, and until we know that... that is a problem.

Pride event controversy in Broadview Heights | Watch (msn.com)
I am now truly sad I missed this, as this seems like it would have been a giant train wreck, and we all know how much I love those.

Here’s what Ohio lawmakers say should be done to solve the state’s housing problems (msn.com)
Interesting?  I am not sure it is enough; certainly not for production and getting stuff in the ground, although the zoning stuff could alleviate some of the issues there.  I sometimes wonder what would happen if someone suggested the state go and build some small but decent (i.e., starter) homes and then sell them to first-time homeowners (albeit those with good credit and the means to do so); I don't necessarily think that would be a huge help either, but the only way to get prices down is to boost supply...

Bemused and Amazed

 Nothing like not being able to sleep once again.  Ok, it happens, but it seems to be happening more lately, which is not good.  Funny thing is, the day was...pretty good.  Less stressful.  Hit the gym.  Heavy rain on the way home, which affected but not terribly the commute.  Healthy dinner of salmon and veggies... can't complain about that.  I feel the fatness coming on, but the scale said 184, so... 

Half of my parishes have responded to my invite for next month's Communion breakfast, and the turnout promises to be... high, from what is reported.  I am pleasantly surprised by that, and if the other parishes respond...well, it would be a nice turnout!  I need to send an update to the caterer and do some administration!  I do have a month, and it is only 40-50 people, but...  

‘Smiling his ass off’: How Trump used the New York bodega visit to return to form - POLITICO
Don't we have to give some "credit" for Alvin Bragg, for setting himself up like that?  I mean, if the guy is indicting Trump and store owners, but not actual criminals... I would argue that this is one of the things that people like about Trump, his ability to call out the idiocy of modern life...the old comment that people look at Trump and like him because they take him seriously but not literally...

Turmoil at NPR after editor rips network for political bias (msn.com)
This could be me, but does anyone -- except for those who work and listen to NPR -- not believe that they have a liberal bias?  I occasionally pop on, such as while channel surfing, and there is no way they can deny it.  Then, of course, people find the social media posts of the CEO, and... we're off to the races. More seriously, I like the idea of challenging people about intellectual diversity; if there are 87 Dems and 0 GOPers on staff, that is something of a problem, and if they don't realize it...

Seeing is Believing

 Cut the grass today; really didn't want to, but seeing the perfect weather, the upcoming weather report, and hearing my neighbors cutting...well, I decided to do some adulting and cut it as well.  I forgot to charge the weed-whacker battery, so that will remain undone, but at the very least the yard is cut.  The engine fired up right away (a good sign) and there were no issues at all with the cutting; indeed, it went fairly well, though I went the wrong way a few times.  I need to figure the best way to do it instead of roaming about!

Had an eye doctor today; drove out to the East Side (she is by Beachwood Place) and, as always, I did NOT miss the East Side; not saying that West Side driving is much better, but on the aggregate, the East Siders... whoa.  More importantly, my vision is fine -- I didn't think it was 20/20 with the glasses, but it was, and I was even told that at 20/20, it is not necessarily perfect, which blew my mind.  I got a new prescription anyways -- a slight change if I want -- but that was that.  Phew!  Then back home to work, where I had two meetings and received another project.  Oi!  I guess it was good to destroy some lawn; that good feeling lasted until J!, where I completely blew an easy Final.  Oi.  I was not pleased by this development.  Old age and mental decline, I sense.

What is the Best Way to Help Israel and Ukraine? – MishTalk
I don't know; while I see the point of not wanting the Speaker to rely on Democratic votes to get things done, he wouldn't have to if the GOP was united on anything, and the fact that we are out is our problem, and a colossally easy one to solve (I would think).  But, as long as the inmates try to run the asylum, we will have this problem, and hence the need for bipartisanship.  In the meantime, I need not remind everyone that many bills have been passed this way; I always recall the example of the Compromise of 1850 and, for that matter, the Kansas-Nebraska Act (I am a Civil War guy).

They criticized Israel. This Twitter account upended their lives. (msn.com)
I would feel badly, but if this is what lefties believe -- going after people for whatever the post, act, and believe -- they really can't complain about it being done to them.

Broadview Heights residents storm council meeting to oppose Pride Fest on city property - cleveland.com
Had I known about this, I would have gone!  I wonder... I think we lean a bit to the right out here, but not that much, so will these people rush to the polls the next time and vote these people out?  I doubt it, but if that is what it takes to get some shakeup on City Council.... fine with me.